Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 1 of 8
Program 3 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall Western Front into the Gobi Desert Eclipse-City is happy to announce its short China eclipse-program. Our Third 2008 China eclipse program will take you to China’s Great Wall Western Front, at Jiayuguan in the Chinese Province of Gansu. This Program is intended for travelers with limited budget or time constraints. Our journey will begin in Frankfurt (Germany) or Los Angeles (USA). You will board one of our chartered Eclipse Clippers and fly directly to Jiayuguan, the Gateway into the Ancient Chinese Empire, in the middle of Gobi Desert! Jiayuguan will be our hub for our eclipse viewing program. Whilst on the ground, you will see the magnificence of China’s Great Wall at its westernmost front. Some 100 km away, passing by cotton fields and China’s Space Program location, we will enjoy 1 minute and 50 seconds of totality in our specially built day camp in the Gobi Desert. After the eclipse, we will celebrate with a Gala Dinner in the typical Eclipse-City fashion with our Chinese hosts. You will be accompanied by our multilingual staff, international astronomy experts, and of course, bilingual local guides. All hotels are self-inspected 3 or 4 star hotels. The Day after the E-Day, we will fly you back. Your 72 hours with Eclipse-City into the Gobi desert will remain like a dream. Welcome again to Eclipse-City
Managing Director Eclipse-City Ltd. Where the moon mates the sun
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 2 of 8
Program 3 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall Western Front into the Gobi Desert
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 3 of 8
Program 3 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall Western Front into the Gobi Desert ex Frankfurt (Germany) / Los Angeles (USA) Thursday 31st – Saturday August 2nd 2008 Euros 1,790.- p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
Thursday, July 31st 2008 – The Adventure Begins If your departure is from Frankfurt /Germany), you will leave Thursday July 31 2008 late afternoon on our special Eclipse Clipper, direct into the Gobi Desert. Your arrival at Jiayuguan Airport will be on st Friday August 1 , early in the morning. If you depart from Los Angeles International, your departure will be Thursday July 31 2008 early morning on our special Eclipse Clipper, direct into the Gobi Desert. Your arrival at Jiayuguan Airport st will be on Friday August 1 , early in the morning.
Friday, August 1st 2008 – Eclipse Day: 1 Minute and 50 Seconds of Totality You will check in your hotel, have a hearty breakfast and freshen up. Your tour begins right away. Jiayuguan is the Gateway to the Ancient Chinese Empire, the site of the fort that marks the western end of the Great Wall in Gansu Province. Owing to its strategic position, it has the name of "fort of the nd border" and "domination of the Great Wall”, with a long and venerable history dated back to the 2 century B.C. and beyond, the last real outpost of the Great Wall. About seven kilometers south of Jiayuguan City lies the Great Wall's first fire tower, regarded by some as the world's first frustum, or cut-off pyramid. This structure marks the western beginning of the Ming Great Wall. th
This frustum was built in the 18 year of the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty (1539). With a flat top, it is a square pyramid, with its length, width, and height each 14 meters. As the result of water erosion over hundreds of years, some parts have been destroyed. Standing alongside a cliff, the frustum shows its age. To preserve the precious relic, the Jiayuguan city government has built a 30-meter-long arched fortification, which creates a secondary structure and functions as an enclosure. Standing on the tower, visitors can experience the grandeur of an ancient civilization while appreciating the marvelous view of the vast Gobi. After breakfast, we will head for our specially built day camp in the Gobi Desert, just two hours drive away. We have been there ourselves inspecting this site in October 2006. It is stunning, no clouds and it is all there for you: Camel riding, lunch and beverage service, balloon riding and many more.
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 4 of 8
Now you want to find your own spot. There is ample of space in the Gobi Desert. Eclipse-City is the exclusive local government partner in the Jiayuguan/Gansu area. This location offers more than 1 minute and 50 seconds of totality along with the best weather prospects along the 2008 totality path. Get ready for st
1 Contact at 18:15:52 (altitude 25°, azimuth 272°) nd 2 contact at 19:12:49 (altitude 15°, azimuth 281°) 11:13:44.3 UTC (19:13:44 Chinese / Standard Beijing Time). 1 minute and 50 seconds of totality. Sun’s 1 2 altitude will be 14°, azimuth 281°, coverage will be 3 100%, magnitude at mid eclipse at 1.01668, the 4 5 Moon/Sun ratio at 1.03359 and the umbral depth at 99.3%. Considering our location, we expect a spectacular and immaculate totality view over the Gobi Desert’s horizon, as shown on our location picture. rd
3 contact at 19:14:39 (altitude 14°, azimuth 282°) th 4 contact at 20:07:36 (altitude 04°, azimuth 290°) After you have packed all your belongings, we will proceed back to Jiayuguan, which is just one hour drive away. While we drive you, you will enjoy the sundown, relax and have your thoughts reviewing your rich day’s experience. Back at our Jiayuguan, you may want to freshen up, change and get ready for our Eclipse Gala Dinner and Show A delicious, varied and beautifully arranged Gala Buffet will be awaiting you. Find your friends or make new ones and get ready for our Gala Show: Gansu artists are there to entertain and show us their cultural diversity!
1
Azimuth: the Sun location: 0° = due North, 90° = East, 180 = South, 270 = West Coverage: the percentage of the Sun’s disk covered at mid eclipse 3 Magnitude: the fraction of the Sun’s diameter covered by the Moon 4 Ratio: the apparent size of the Moon to that of the Sun 5 Umbral depth: the percentage of the way from the edge of the eclipse to the centre line that this location is at 2
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 5 of 8
Saturday, August 2nd 2008 – The Great Wall After a typical Eclipse-City breakfast we will continue our Great Wall program. Eleven kilometers (6.8 miles) to the downtown Jiayuguan City and 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) from Jiayuguan Pass, the Overhanging Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Work began on it in 1539, and was completed in the following year. It was built using layer upon layer of stone and yellow earth. In subsequent years, the wall has dwindled from its original length of 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) to its current 750 meters (2,460 feet). The Overhanging Great Wall is an extended part of the Jiayuguan Pass, and was once an important component in the medieval military defense system. Winding through the Gobi dessert to the steep Black Mountain (Hei Shan), the wall appears to hang over the cliff and block the vital pass of Shiguan Xiakou, which is how it got its name. It is similar in appearance to the grand Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, and is therefore also known as the Western Badaling. We will end our Great Wall program by taking you the Jiayuguan’s Fortress and Great Wall Museum. In order to keep the Mongol invaders out beyond the Great Wall, General Feng Sheng, a successful commander of the Ming dynasty army, started to build and reinforce the wall in 1372, along with which a Fortress was constructed, known as “The First and Greatest Pass under Heaven”. Legend goes that the official in charge asked the designer to calculate how many bricks would be used. The designer gave him the number and when the project finished, only one brick was left. It was put on the top of the pass as a symbol of commemoration. If time permits it, we shall visit the Great Wall Museum with its magnificent exhibition about the different dynastic periods of The Great Wall constructions all over China. After a short lunch, we will take you to the airport. For those of you heading back to Frankfurt, you will departure Jiayuguan early afternoon, arriving Frankfurt International early evening. Due to the nature of this flight, allow yourself enough connecting time. For those of you heading back to Los Angeles International, your departure will be early evening, arrival LAX by late afternoon. Due to the nature of this flight, allow yourself enough connecting time.
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 6 of 8
Program 3 is directed especially to all those clients whishing to experience the 2008 total solar eclipse in a top and unique location in China, but have not enough time to spare for other Eclipse-City programs: Services: Welcome and departure meet and greet at Frankfurt or Los Angeles and Jiayuguan airports Airfare on special Eclipse Clipper charter flight Frankfurt/Jiayuguan/Frankfurt or Los Angeles /Jiayuguan/Los Angeles in economy class Luggage service Tour guidance in Chinese, English and German (other languages upon request) Astronomical guides Local guides Lodging in 3 or 4 star hotels. Single supplement applies (+50 Euros). Full board (breakfast, lunch and warm dinner), hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages during Eclipse Gala Dinner Local transportation on state-of-the-art local tourist busses Eclipse shades Invitation for Chinese visa application, where needed Information material 100 Euros voucher on your next booking on an Eclipse-City program to Iwo Jima in 2009 If you prefer to fly Business Class, please ask for our VIP service under
[email protected]
Optional Services (to be booked and paid on site): Camel tour from Eclipse-City Day Camp Horse back riding Hot air ballooning from Eclipse-City Day Camp We can not guarantee any of optional extra services will be available during your stay.
Excludes: Visa arrangements and costs Travel and Medical Insurance Alcoholic drinks (included during Gala Dinner only) We point out that: Passports need to have at least 6 months validity when entering/leaving China Eclipse-City cannot be held liable for any - though unlikely - unexpected weather changes.
Place your bookings now, limited availability
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 7 of 8
Payment Terms and Conditions Individual sale 1. 50% deposit upon receipt of reservation 2. 50% balance by 15 March 2008 Group Sale with allotment 1. 50% Group Deposit upon signature of contract 2. Balance of payment by 15 April 2008 Reservation will only be effective upon receipt of deposit.
Cancellation Terms and Conditions Individual sale 10% cancellation fee from 15 March 2007 - 31 December 2007 50% cancellation fee from 1 January 2008 – 15 March 2008 75% cancellation fee from 16 March 2008 – 30 June 2008 100% cancellation fee from 1 July 2008 Name changes permitted up to 1 July 2008, subject to: Name change policy of airline applies, where flight bookings have been made. Visa needs to be issued Group sale 10% cancellation fee from 15 March 2007 - 31 December 2007 50% cancellation fee from 1 January 2008 – 15 April 2008 75% cancellation fee from 16 April 2008 – 30 June 2008 100% cancellation fee from 1 July 2008 Name changes permitted up to 1 July 2008, subject to: Name change policy of airline applies, where flight bookings have been made. Visa needs to be issued
Meals Regardless of the package you have booked, all Eclipse-City guests will be provided with full board. A large team of local and international staff will prepare Chinese and international dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For all those guests requiring a special dietary treatment, we do encourage you to clearly specify your requirements in writing, when booking your Eclipse-City trip.
www.eclipse-city.com
Program 3: 72 Hours with Eclipse-City to China’s Great Wall West Front into the Gobi Desert
Page 8 of 8
Transport to and from Eclipse-City Eclipse-City will provide for full transport with state-of-the-art local transport. If you require a special "out of program schedule" transport to/from the viewing site, please request it in writing to
[email protected]. We will try to satisfy all your special requirements. A Kerosene Surcharge applies for this program if oil prices increase.
Security and personal safety Your security and personal safety is our primary duty! What have we done so far and what can you expect: Before issuing this program, we have made sure to have Xinjiang and Gansu Secretaries of Tourism officially endorsing our program. Eclipse-City is expecting and prepared to see and receive other eclipse-viewing visitors. Everyone else not registered at Eclipse-City, will not be permitted nor have physical access to the City. Private security services will be guarding the camp, our guests and all your valuables. Eclipse-City is prepared to treat minor emergencies in a special conditioned medical tent, including specialized staff. Included in your package are complimentary medical treatments, such as sunburn, insect bites, gastro-intestinal disturbances. Eclipse-City Ltd. February 2007
NOTE: Our published terms and conditions apply
www.eclipse-city.com
